The price of printer ink is fairly high, and consumers should do everything that they can to avoid wasting any of the ink in a cartridge. Clogged print heads are a particularly serious problem, as they often cause a computer owner to mistakenly assume that an ink cartridge is used up, when actually they need to simply perform a bit of quick maintenance to get dozens or even hundreds of additional prints out of a cartridge. Understanding print head clogs and how they can be fixed can lead to some serious savings.



There are two main types of print heads; print heads that are located on the ink cartridge itself, and heads that are built into the printer. Regardless of where a print head is located, it can become clogged up when old ink is pressed through it, or simply through overuse of the printer. In most cases, a print head becomes clogged when a computer user tries to print something after the printer hasn’t been used for an extended period of time. The ink bunches together and dries (in a matter of speaking), and causes damage to the head. The good news is that a print head can usually be fixed or replaced, depending on the type of printer, the severity of the clog, and several other factors.



Some companies sell print head cleaner devices that shoot compressed air into the heads of a printer, freeing up clogs. They may have special chemicals to ease the ink out of the head. These print head cleaner devices, which may come in the form of a cartridge, are great for printers that have built-in print heads. If your printer uses cartridges with built-in heads (many home printers use these types of cartridges) you can often clean out the heads by placing the cartridge on a warm, damp paper towel, reversing its direction for several minutes, then trying it again. You can also try compressed air, although this could potentially cause issues. The safest course of action is to follow the instructions included in your printer’s manual–if there are such instructions.



Every computer owner should know that blotchy or hard-to-read prints aren’t necessarily a sign of a bad ink cartridge. Clogged heads will cause almost the exact same symptoms as a used-up cartridge, and trying to clean out the heads rather than immediately replacing the cartridge can be a good choice. This is particularly true if you haven’t used your printer in a few weeks. A bit of easy maintenance will keep the heads in good condition and save money in the long run. Make sure to go over any and all issues discussed in this article before proceeding with any action.